Akaflieg Stuttgart fs24 Phönix
Akaflieg Stuttgart · West Germany · first flew 1957 · glider
The Akaflieg Stuttgart fs24 Phönix was a single-seat high-performance sailplane developed by the academic flying group at Stuttgart University, notable for its early use of fibreglass construction and laminar-flow wing profiles.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- German university-built high-performance single-seat glider of the late 1950s
- Notably clean fibreglass construction for its era with laminar-flow wing profile
Sleek single-seat glider with long tapered wings, a slim fuselage under a bubble canopy, retractable monowheel undercarriage, and exceptionally clean aerodynamic profile.
Specifications
- The Akaflieg Stuttgart fs24 Phönix has a length of 6.8 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by students and faculty at the Technische Hochschule Stuttgart in the mid-1950s, the fs24 first flew in 1957. It incorporated cutting-edge aerodynamic research into a practical competition glider and achieved notable results at national and international gliding competitions. A small number were produced for competition pilots beyond the university group.
Variants
The fs24 was developed as a single type; later Akaflieg Stuttgart designs such as the fs29 continued the research tradition.
Where you'll see it
Used by competition pilots in West Germany and exported in small numbers to other European soaring clubs.
Related aircraft
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